• Position, including dead reckoning and estimated position, satellite derived positions, use of waypoints, radar fixes, visual fix techniques, mixedc position lines, relative accuracy, areas of uncertainty.
  • Magnetic compass, including variation, deviationcompass swings, types of magnetic compass.
  • Tides, including causes, solar and lunar cycles, spring and neap tides, tide tables, tidal levels and datum, standard and secondary ports, tidal anomalies (eg Solent).
  • Tidal Streams incuding sources of information, allowance for tide in computing course to steer, tide rips, overfalls, races, tide buoys and guages.
  • Buoyage and Lights including IALA Region A, Limitations, Characteristics, ranges of lights, rising and ripping distances, Lists of Lights.
  • Pilotage, including harbour regulations and control signals, methods of pre-planning, clearing lines, soundings, transits and leading lines.
  • Electronic Navigation Aids including GPS, chart plotters, principles and limitations, raster and vector charts, datum, importance of confirmation by independent source and keeping navigational records. Importance of paper charts.
  • Instruments including echo Sounders, ship’s log (speed and distance), radar.
  • Vessel’s Deck log as an official document.
  • Meteorology including terminology, Beaufort Scale, basic physics of weather, air masses, fronts, pressure patterns and associated weather, interpretation of synoptic charts, weatherfax, weather satellite information, local wind effects, formation of sea fog, use of the barometer for forecasting.
  • International regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea (Rule of the Road) all parts except Annexes 1 and 3.
  • Safety at Sea, including responsibilities of skippers, personal safety, fire prevention and firefighting, distress signals, coastguard and small boat safety scheme, preparation for heavy weather, liferafts and helicopter rescue, vessel characteristics and safety, basic vessel stability.
  • Navigation in Restricted Visibility, including precautions in fog, limitations to safe navigation in fog, navigation strategy.
  • Passage Planning, including charts and publications, customs regulations, routine coastal navigation, tidal streams and heights and ‘tidal gates’, route selection, crossing TSS, strategy for course laying, use of waypoints and routes, weather forecasts.
  • Protection of the marine environment.